Tracing the Origin

Watching the Lin family depart, each member of the Jiang family breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hah… Thankfully, the Lin family still considers our Jiang family’s standing,” Jiang Yuan remarked. “Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t know if they would use this as an excuse to cause trouble.”

They understood, of course, that the Lin family would undoubtedly return. Given the Lin family’s prominence in Jiang Country, obtaining a royal decree from King Jiang to search a declining clan would likely pose no significant challenge.

Days later, the Lin family had practically turned East City upside down, yet their efforts yielded almost nothing. While they did uncover a few clues regarding Yan Yun’s whereabouts, they remained unable to ascertain which power she truly belonged to.

****

Inside the Zhou family’s residence in West City.

“Bang!”

“We’ve nearly scoured East City to its very foundations, yet still, there’s no trace of that woman,” Lin Ao questioned, his voice laced with agitation and impatience. “Could we have been mistaken?”

Lin Jingbo shook his head.

“According to our investigation, this woman abruptly appeared in Qifeng City a year ago,” he explained. “She makes several appearances each month, and every time, she’s selling medicinal ingredients. Therefore, it’s highly probable she resides in Qifeng City, though there’s a slight chance she departed Qifeng City immediately after killing our Lin family members.”

Upon hearing his words, the Lin family members furrowed their brows in deep thought.

“Third Master,” someone inquired, “if that’s the case, wouldn’t we be searching for a needle in a haystack? Furthermore, haven’t we already secured the royal decree? Why haven’t we proceeded to search the Jiang family? The entire East City, apart from them, has already been searched.”

With so many Lin family members involved, they couldn’t remain indefinitely in Qifeng City; it had already been nearly a week.

“Go, we will certainly go,” Lin Jingbo affirmed. “But first, I wish to confirm one more matter.” Having said this, he rose and departed the Zhou residence, making his way once again to Qianjin Pavilion.

He had returned to purchase clues from Jin Meng.

“Welcome back, Fellow Daoist Lin, to my Qianjin Pavilion,” Jin Meng greeted, her demeanor as composed as ever. “What is it you wish to inquire about this time?”

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Jingbo asked, “Pavilion Master Jin Meng, what connection does that Heavenly Poison Maiden you mentioned last time have with Qifeng City?”

This question caused Jin Meng to pause. Unlike before, she did not immediately answer Lin Jingbo, but instead seemed lost in thought.

Noticing Jin Meng’s prolonged silence, Lin Jingbo immediately sensed an underlying issue.

“The price for this question is rather high,” Jin Meng stated, naming her price. “Five million spirit stones.”

The exorbitant price alone indicated that this matter was a deep secret, unknown to ordinary people and exceedingly difficult to uncover.

Upon hearing Jin Meng’s words, Lin Jingbo gritted his teeth, yet still nodded his assent.

The Lin family genuinely could not afford to waste any more time. If they continued to find nothing, were they expected to remain indefinitely in Qifeng City, or perhaps conduct a carpet search across the entire Southern Border Commandery? Such an endeavor was clearly both unrealistic and impossible.

If spending five million could expedite matters for the Lin family, it would hardly be considered too expensive. The lives of Lin Yuan and Lin Ze were undoubtedly worth far more than that sum.

“This answer will not disappoint you,” Jin Meng said with a smile.

With that, she began to divulge the identity of the Heavenly Poison Maiden, who was none other than Yan Lingyun, to Lin Jingbo.

****

A moment later…

“What?” Lin Jingbo exclaimed, utterly astonished by the revelation. “That Heavenly Poison Maiden’s surname is Yan? Are you suggesting she has a connection to the Yan family of Qifeng City?”

To think this seemingly insignificant Yan family possessed such a background! If the information proved true, then everything would finally make sense.

A young woman skilled in poison arts and alchemy, with silver hair and purple eyes—a description that closely matched the Heavenly Poison Maiden Jin Meng had provided—shared the same surname as the Yan family. This same girl primarily frequented Qifeng City and had killed members of the Lin family without a second thought.

Had such an offense been committed by anyone else, they would surely have spared Lin Yuan and Lin Ze’s lives out of deference to the Lin family’s status.

“Whether there’s a connection, I cannot say for certain,” Jin Meng replied. “After all, many people share the same surname. I have answered your question; the truth must be verified by Fellow Daoist Lin yourself.” Jin Meng offered no further words.

In truth, a considerable number of people knew Yan Lingyun’s name. However, generally speaking, one would not casually assume a connection between her and a particular family simply because they shared a surname.

Moreover, it was a matter spanning over a millennium, making verification exceedingly difficult.

For the domineering Lin family, however, a mere pretext was all they required to act.

****

Meanwhile, at Yan Yun’s residence, as she was refining medicine, a sudden unease swept over her. The heat within her medicine cauldron abruptly flared out of control, instantly ruining an entire batch of medicinal ingredients.

‘What is this unsettling feeling?’ Yan Yun fretted inwardly. ‘I keep sensing that something terrible is about to happen. A week has passed, and the Lin family still hasn’t given up. If this continues, they’ll uncover a clue sooner or later. Yan Yun, Yan Yun, you cannot simply wait for death!’

As soon as Lin Jingbo returned to the Zhou family residence from Qianjin Pavilion, he immediately dispatched people to investigate the Yan family’s origins and background.

Unraveling events from over a millennium ago would undoubtedly require time.

Yet, any family, so long as it possessed an origin, would inevitably have its roots traced back to their source.

****

A few nights later, a mysterious cloaked figure infiltrated the Yan family ancestral hall.

Stepping into the hall, his gaze swept across all the ancestral tablets within the Yan family’s shrine, yet he seemingly failed to locate the name he sought.

Finding no trace on the tablets, the cloaked figure then cast his eyes upon the Yan family genealogy placed centrally in the hall. With a casual flick of his wrist, he seized the genealogy into his hand and began to rapidly leaf through its pages.

He quickly turned to the final page, where the name of the Yan family’s progenitor, Yan Chongxiao, was inscribed, along with a general account of his identity and origins. However, the more he read, the more he sensed something amiss.

Yan Chongxiao’s background was remarkably ordinary: he hailed from a small mountain village, a simple farmer, to put it plainly. He had suddenly amassed great wealth overnight, transforming from a peasant into a local magnate, after which he relocated to Qifeng City, gradually expanding his lineage and ultimately establishing the city’s foremost family.

‘This Yan family truly harbors some secrets,’ the cloaked figure mused. ‘It seems I must continue searching further back.’ After setting down the genealogy, he swiftly departed the Yan family estate.

****

Concurrently, as the Lin family delved into tracing the Yan family’s origins, Lin Jingbo arrived at the Jiang family estate, bearing the royal decree issued by King Jiang.

Lin Jingbo, accompanied by the Lin family’s elite, surrounded the Jiang family residence.

“Royal Decree: Special approval is hereby granted for the Lin family to enter the Jiang family residence in Qifeng City to conduct inquiries and investigations. The Jiang family of Qifeng City shall not refuse.” Lin Jingbo, holding a vermilion royal decree, solemnly intoned these words to the kneeling Jiang family members before him.

Having finished, he delivered the royal decree into Jiang Yuan’s hands, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

This time, the Jiang family had no recourse but to courteously welcome Lin Jingbo and his entourage into their home.

“Family Head Jiang,” Lin Jingbo commanded, “you surely have nothing to say this time. The decree instructs cooperation with the inquiry and investigation. Please summon all cultivators of your Jiang family; this old man intends to examine each of them individually.”

That the Lin family managed to obtain a royal decree was well within their expectations, so Jiang Yuan remained cooperative, knowing full well he had nothing to hide.

****

Meanwhile, dozens of miles from Qifeng City, nestled within Wuxia Mountain, lay a mountain town known as Wuxia Town.

Lin Ao, accompanied by his men, was currently scouring Wuxia Town, inquiring everywhere for clues pertaining to families bearing the Yan surname.

This was because, according to the account of the Yan family’s progenitor, Yan Chongxiao, he originated from Luoxia Mountain, northeast of Qifeng City.

Luoxia Mountain was the name it bore over a millennium ago; it was now known as Wuxia Mountain.

Their persistent search indeed yielded a clue concerning a family named Yan. Although no Yan family members currently resided in Wuxia Mountain, a woodcutter had stumbled upon some ancient graves while felling trees.

Among the inscriptions on these graves, the surname Yan was clearly visible.

Guided by the woodcutter, Lin Ao located a tomb belonging to a Yan family.

The reason this tomb endured for a millennium was its considerable size and its construction from superior quality stone.

The site itself was remarkably secluded, almost entirely swallowed by vegetation. Had the Lin family not been relentlessly pursuing the culprit, it was likely that this place would have remained undisturbed for another few millennia.

After Lin Ao and his men cleared away the overgrowth from the tombstone, they cast their eyes upon the carved inscriptions.

He scrutinized the text, and his face instantly registered profound shock.

“Yan Lingyun?” he murmured in disbelief. “To think that the Heavenly Poison Maiden from a thousand years ago was siblings with Yan Chongxiao, the Yan family progenitor! It appears my son’s and fourth brother’s deaths are indeed inextricably linked to the Yan family.”

With a swift wave of his hand, Lin Ao then blasted open the ancient tomb, which had stood for a millennium. Once the tomb lay exposed, it revealed a sizable burial chamber containing two coffins.

The coffins, crafted from white jade, were notably unique. Lin Ao extended his divine sense deep into one, and a single glance brought him yet another shock: within lay two remarkably lifelike remains of a middle-aged couple.

The woman among them bore a striking resemblance to Yan Lingyun.

Despite a millennium having passed, the bodies retained their lifelike appearance, clearly having undergone special preservation—a feat far beyond the capabilities of ordinary individuals.

The Yan family was now in grave trouble.